Individuals modify a motorway sign to encourage motorists to reach Strasbourg by avoiding the paid bypass

South of Strasbourg, a highway sign has been modified in a very traditional way. It indicates the direction of the European capital, without going through the paid bypass. A way of serving tourists who don’t know the area well and might be tempted to take the toll highway given the vagueness of the directions? A reprehensible action in any case.

It was users who reported this, to say the least, artisanal change on a motorway sign located on the A35 just after the Innenheim exit, south of Strasbourg. We can clearly see the mention Strasbourg via the GCO, the toll motorway, scratched. And the word Strasbourg added in the direction of the A35, to guide motorists in a direction without tolls.

A snub, which may make you smile, for all those who know the heavy issue of signage towards the European capital. As a reminder, when the GCO (large western bypass) was put into service at the end of 2021, the road signs caused controversy.

In fact, they explicitly directed users towards this toll highway which bypasses the European capital while serving it. However, the direction of Strasbourg was no longer indicated, neither from the north nor from the south, by the A35, which is indeed free and much more direct.

Suffice to say that most tourists are fooled and take the GCO. Even some locals who daydream admit to having tripped over this toll highway at least once.

A petition was then launched, signed by just under 10,000 people, to obtain more clarity. Nothing has happened and for a year, it has been radio silence. “Everyone passed the buckdeplores Bruno Dalpra, the petitioner. Vinci (the operator) says that he is not competent, and the department of the Ministry of Transport which manages this, turns a deaf ear.”

This hand-modified sign could have been of service to the tourists who will flock massively with the opening of the Christmas market on November 24. However, it has already been cleaned this Tuesday, November 21. The little joker still risks a hefty fine for what could be considered vandalism.